University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Baseball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator
- Email:
- bromans@athletics.pitt.edu
- Phone:
- 412-648-8334
Brandon Romans enters his second season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the University of Pittsburgh's baseball program. Romans coaches third base and works primarily with the hitters and outfielders. He also spearheads the Panthers' recruiting process throughout the year.
In his first year at Pitt, Romans helped a number of Panthers achieve career highs at the plate.
Under his direction, the Panthers scored their most runs (382) and had their second-highest team batting average (.282) since 2013.
Pitt’s leadoff man for a majority of 2024, Dom Popa, had the best offensive season of his career in his first year with Romans. Popa tallied career highs in every major statistical category, including batting average, where he hit .350 over 55 games as a senior. Popa’s 72 hits were the most in a single season by a Panther since 2019.
Pitt’s first baseman, Luke Cantwell, was second in all of the ACC in on-base percentage (.515) and third in the ACC in hit-by-pitches (18) during his first season with Romans. Cantwell would go on to set the single season walks record by a Panther with 57 in 2024.
Romans has spent the past fifteen seasons coaching at the Division I level. He had spent the previous six seasons at Florida Gulf Coast University as their assistant coach and recruiting coordinator prior to arriving at Pitt.
Romans was crucial in FGCU breaking multiple single-season program records over the duration of the 2023 season. Setting the team single season home run (142), RBI (550), walk (310), runs scored (578) total base (1,252) and slugging percentage (.592) records. He also helped position players break six individual season records and six individual career records.
At the end of conference tournament play in 2023, FGCU led the nation in home runs (142) and slugging percentage (.592). At the end of the college baseball season, Romans' offense led the country in home runs per game (2.37), runs scored per game (9.63), slugging percentage (.592) and OPS (1.024). The only teams who finished with more home runs at the end of the season were the two teams who played for a national championship in Omaha in late June, Florida (146) and LSU (144).
Under the tutelage of Romans, 26 of his players have earned all-conference honors. Throughout his career, he coached 60 players who have been drafted and 10 players who have been fortunate enough to the play in the big leagues.
From 2013 to 2015, Romans was the first assistant at Jacksonville State. During his time there he helped the Gamecocks record 98 victories, 55 conference victories, and a conference tournament championship in 2014. In his first year at Jacksonville State, Romans coached two All-Americans in Michael Bishop and Travis Stout.
Romans began his coaching career at UCF as a volunteer assistant from 2010 to 2012, immediately followed his playing career for the Knights from 2007 to 2009. He would make his second stint at UCF during the 2016 season, that time as an assistant coach.
During his time at UCF, Romans helped engineer back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 2011 and 2012. Romans aided D.J. Hicks in earning a Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist nomination in addition to his second consecutive All-America honor that year as well. During the 2011 season, UCF led the conference in home runs, doubles, runs scored and slugging percentage while clinching a NCAA Tournament berth for the first time since 2004.
Romans spent three years as an outfielder at UCF where he had a career .314 batting average, hit 17 home runs and drove in 77 runs. As a senior in 2009, he hit .333 while leading the team in home runs (14) and RBI (49). The performance earned him Conference-USA Second Team All-Conference honors and a selection on the Johnny Bench Award Watch List.
Romans has a wife, Emily, and a son, Landon.
